In July 1947, a meeting was held in Delhi among nearly 100 Indian rulers, including rajas, maharajas, khans, and nawabs. This gathering took place amidst the escalating sectarian violence between Hindus, Muslims, and Sikhs, which had already claimed the lives of tens of thousands of people. These 100 rulers were just a fraction of the 565 princely states in India, which had ruled over nearly half of the country’s landmass and a third of its population under British paramountcy.
However, the time had come for these princely rulers to face their future as Britain was set to withdraw from India in three weeks. This left the rulers at the mercy of the newly formed governments of India and Pakistan. The fate of the princely states would be determined in the midst of India’s independence and the partition.
Before independence, India’s political map was a mix of British India represented by pink regions and the princely states of “Indian India” represented by yellow regions. These princely states varied greatly in size, from the massive Hyderabad with a population of 16 million and wealth comparable to Belgium, to the tiny Bilbari with a population of only 27.
While under British paramountcy, these mini-kingdoms enjoyed significant autonomy but were subject to the oversight of a British Resident or political agent. Their status was ranked based on a system of gun salutes devised by the British, with the five largest states receiving 21-gun salutes and the King Emperor entitled to a 101-gun salute.
The rulers of the princely states had varying approaches to governing their territories. Some focused on industry and infrastructure, while others treated their people as feudal serfs. Extravagance was also common, with Maharajahs indulging in luxuries such as Rolls Royces and unique design commissions. For example, the Maharajah of Indore had a tubular chaise-longue cover designed by Le Corbusier in leopard skin, and the Maharawal of Dungarpur even traveled to Brighton to learn the foxtrot.
With the British announcement of their withdrawal from India, the days of the princely states were numbered. Jawaharlal Nehru, the incoming prime minister of India, was concerned about these rulers establishing themselves as independent monarchs after the British departure. However, it was Vallabhbhai Patel and VP Menon, two government officials, who took on the complex task of integrating the princely states into the newly formed Dominions of India and Pakistan.
Lord Louis Mountbatten, the last Viceroy of India, had offered the princely states three conditions for their accession: defense, foreign affairs, and communications would be handled by the new Dominions, while internal affairs would remain untouched. However, Patel and Menon were determined to bring the states under the control of the new India. Ultimately, almost all of the princely states acceded to India, with only 10 joining Pakistan.
Hyderabad, a Muslim-majority state, was one of the last to resist accession. It was eventually brought under Indian control through military action, resulting in the deaths of thousands of people and leaving the territorial dispute between India and Pakistan unresolved.
Indira Gandhi, India’s third prime minister, played a significant role in the downfall of the princely states. She harbored a deep dislike for the princes, partly due to her animosity towards a princess schoolmate, Gayatri Devi. Gandhi abolished the privy purses and privileges of the princely states in 1971, effectively wiping out their remaining income and status. Some royals adapted to the changing times and entered politics, while others saw their fortunes decline significantly.
The story of India’s princely states is a fascinating one, filled with intrigue, power struggles, and the transition from a colonial past to an independent nation. Mick Brown’s book, “Dethroned: The Downfall of India’s Princely States,” offers a comprehensive account of this historical period.
